Some low-ranking Sri Lankan troops may be in contact with renegades opposed to the island's Tamil Tiger rebels, but there is no evidence of collusion, the head of the government's peace secretariat said on Tuesday.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have said they will not resume peace talks until the government makes good on a pledge to rein in such groups -- in particular breakaway rebels led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna.
Truce monitors say the military is at least turning a blind eye to Karuna followers in military-controlled territory, but the government says it cannot find anyone to disarm and that anyway hunting them down could risk escalating violence.
"There is no doubt that the military at the highest levels has discouraged any contacts (or) any assistance to the Karuna group," Palitha Kohona, head of the secretariat, told Reuters.
"But at the lowest rank and levels ... human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," he added.
The Tigers accuse the military of helping Karuna's men kill their fighters, and say continued attacks are the single biggest hurdle to resuming peace talks aimed at permanently ending a two-decade civil war that killed over 64,000 people.
The Tigers have pulled out of talks indefinitely, and have warned a low intensity conflict raging despite a 2002 truce could spiral into a full-blown war.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with now Karuna's men," said Kohona, formerly head of the United Nations treaty section in New York.
"The government is determined to ensure that armed groups are not assisted or facilitated in any way by the security forces of the country. There may be lapses in the message going down through the rank and file, but this is only to be expected in any military," he added, citing abuses by U.S. troops in Iraq.
Any soldiers found helping Karuna's group would be prosecuted, Kohona said.
"It is definitely not the type of relationship the government encourages," he added. "But given human nature, I wouldn't be surprised that people fraternise with each other ... They fraternise, they drink with each other, they visit each others' homes. As to what happens beyond that I do not know."
LOW INTENSITY WAR
The Tigers and Nordic truce monitors both now say Sri Lanka is locked in a "low intensity war", though the government disagrees and says it is only retaliating in limited bursts.
And while analysts say the Tigers -- who want to carve out a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east -- are spoiling for a full-fledged war, Kohona says war is not an option.
He said he was disappointed the Tigers warn talks are unlikely this year given escalating clashes, but hopes a visit this week by Norwegian envoys Erik Solheim and Jon Hanssen-Bauer will help bring both sides back to talks.
"I hope that there are some new ideas that they will be able to come and discuss with both the government and the LTTE and the sincere hope of the government is that they will be able to persuade the LTTE at this stage to come back to the negotiating table," he said.
"If we don't have talks, we are condemning ourselves to an eternity of conflict."
The ceasefire is still technically holding.
But more than 270 troops and civilians have been killed since early April and the rebels and the military are fighting increasingly frequent skirmishes with mortars and rocket propelled grenades near their forward defence lines in the north and east.
(http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP144925.htm)
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Prabhkaran’s days are numbered – Pilliyan
Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, told that Prabhakaran is now engaged in battle for his survival and not that of the Tamil people.
Prabhkaran exploits the suffering of the Tamils for his own political ends, he said. Citing an example he said: “Recently, when the Government closed entry to the A9 road, Praba group shed crocodile tears over the death of a child who died, according to a report, without proper medical facilities. But from the date of opening the A-9 road, Prabah Group has collected huge sums of money in the form taxes imposed on the passengers.
They haven’t made use of the money collected so far even to build one hospital. They have made use of those monies to line their pockets and to protect their political power. They grieve only because the revenue generated from road taxes is stopped. But the fact remains that they were unable to provide the necessary medical facilities and safeguard a child’s life.
Then what is all this talk about his Separate Administration serving the Tamil people? Separate Government? If even half of the monies received from the people at home and abroad have been utilized productively, many hospitals with modern facilities would have been constructed and no child would have died,” said Kuperan nom de guerre Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
The full text of the interview with the TMVP special commander Kuperan alias Pilliyan is given below:
Question: Your Leader Karuna Amman declared a unilateral Ceasefire against the Praba Group prior to the Geneva Talks. But in the last two weeks your special commando attack force penetrated into Muthur region attacked Prabah group and inflicted serious damages. After declaring ceasefire, why did you suddenly change tack and launch attacks on the Prabah group?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We didn’t declare ceasefire just for the sake of Praba Group. We knew well that they will not take it seriously. We declared ceasefire because we did not want to obstruct the efforts undertaken by the Mahinda Rajapakse’s Government and because we were keen that his peace efforts should succeed. Unfortunately during that period our members as well as our supporters were attacked by the Prabah Group. We categorically announced earlier that if in case our people were attacked by the Praba Group, we will attack them. During that said period, three of our members and our three supporters, a total of 6 people were shot and killed by Prabah Group. On 30 May they attacked our Kanthakadu camp. These attacks forced us to take retaliatory measures against them.
Question : So are you saying that the ceasefire declaration made by you earlier is now no more?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We announced a Ceasefire for a trial period of one month. Now the ceasefire has expired.
Question: Praba Group has come up saying that by attacking your Kanthakadu Camp, many truths have been exposed. One of them was the confirmation of your group functioning along with the Sri Lanka Army. What is your comment about this allegation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Kanthakadu camp is not located either in the Government controlled area or in the Tiger controlled area. This is located in the no man’s land. This camp is located 9 kilometers away from Kaddumurichchan. You must understand one thing: if we were with the Sri Lanka Army, then the Army should be waging a war against the LTTE. On the contrary, they are keen on distancing themselves from us. This is a false propaganda let loose by them. Even Praba group know very well that we are not associated with the Sri Lanka Army. But they keep on repeating it because it is good propaganda for them. .
Question: After attacking Kanthakadu, the Tigers alleged that it was your group that abducted the members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: Praba Group is leveling this false allegation after seeing our vehicles in the camp. They earlier announced that only one van belonging to the TRO was hijacked. After attacking our camp, now they come up with a new story that, two TRO Vans were hijacked. They keep on changing their stories which reveals their lies. Earlier they lied by alleging that it was we who hijacked van. Now to prove their lies they are coming up with another lie.
Question: Recently in an interview with the Reuters news agency, Anton Balasingham of the Praba Group has complained that the Government has failed to disarm the paramilitary groups as agreed in the peace talks. He went on to say that they have decided penetrate into the Government-controlled areas and personally take steps to disarm especially the arms belonging to the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal. Do you have any comments regarding this?
Special Commander Pilliyan: In fact we are not functioning within the Government controlled areas with arms. After we split from the Tigers they have been targeting us with false propaganda. They first said that the split was an internal matter and told no one should interfere, but now they are begging the Government to disarm us. Those who dare to do it let them come forward. They know well that this is not possible.
Question: Now you have opened up a head office called ‘Meenaham’ in the Eastern Province and is involved in political activities. After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 Praba Group opened up many offices and declared that they were involved in political activities. How do you describe the differences between your political office and the political offices earlier opened up by the Praba Group.
Special Commander Pilliyan: I can’t accept the statement made by you whether Praba Group was involved in political activities. As far as we are aware, their activities were all about collecting ransoms and abducting people. But we are not going to be ever involved in such criminal acts. We are not acting against the people. We have come forward to work truly and passionately for the Tamil people. This is only the beginning and soon we are going to dedicate ourselves completely to work for the basic needs and rights of our people.
Question: We learn that your ‘Meenaham’ Secretariat is located in the high security zone and it is given security by the Army?
Special Commander Pilliyan: If the lives of those working in an organization is threatened, then according to the law of the land, it is the foremost duty of the Government to provide security, Even if Prabakaran comes forward to the democratic mainstream of politics and open an office, then the Government forces would provide security. Who is providing security to the MPs and the cadres of the Tamil National Alliance? It is only the Government security forces.
Question : What has been the response of the people after the opening up of your political office and were you able to perceive any foreseeable changes in the people’s mindset ?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We have seen a noticeable change in the attitude of the people towards us. Their confidence in us is growing daily. We are now very near to them. We will not forsake them. This is a basic change. We will lead our people in the due and correct path. We are receiving enormous amount of support from the people. We receive a large number of people in our office. You can witness this personally if you visit our office.
Question: The last SLMM chief has said that he has seen your cadres in the Government controlled area with arms and because of this people’s normal life is disturbed. Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: The armed persons supposed to have been seen by him was said to be not wearing any uniform or any special kit. They were in normal civilian dress and were carrying weapons he said. Based on this statement how can you say that they are our members. It could be also possible for the Praba’s cadres to come in this area with arms and introduced themselves as our members. That is what would have happened. Even today if you go to Valaichenai, you can see Praba group people roaming with weapons. We have never moved in the Government controlled area with arms. We have never functioned in any way to disturb the normal life of the civilians.
Question: There are several anti-Prabah political parties. Are you going to work with them? Or else are you planning to work alone?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this, we already released a statement after our split. We invited all the anti-Prabakaran forces to come and work together. At this juncture you have to take into consideration an important factor. To fight against Prabakaran is not our only aim.
After getting rid of Prabakaran the right solutions has to be placed on behalf of the Tamil people. Prabakaran is not important to us. Prabakaran, is only a temporary road bloc to achieving our reasonable solutions which have to be obtained honorably.
A sustainable peace has to be achieved. These are our cherished aims and objectives. To achieve these noble goals Prabakaran remains a stumbling block. Because of this we are ready to have common working program and work with all the political parties. While working together we should carefully avoid unnecessary power struggles and the competition for superiority over others in the group. Each group has to work without loosing their own identity for the benefit of our people. We are always prepared to cooperate with any alliance when they come forward to work for the welfare of the people without sacrificing the people for their personal power an authority,
Question : In the beginning, Muslims too were involved in Tamils’ struggle. But after 1990, when so many bitter incidents occurred, Muslims gradually withdrew their participation and retreated. Even now it is clearly evident that Muslims fear that they would be ignored in case the Tamils were able to achieve favorable solutions for their grievances. As a responsible people’s organization, what is your comments regarding the Muslims reasonable fear in this case?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We have a clear position regarding the Muslim people. We have taken up the position that Tamils and Muslim must live together peacefully without interfering in the other’s rights. At the same time, we should also address the rights of the Sinhala people living in our midst.
We are putting forward a working program and work in such a way so that the other brotherly ethnic groups may have confidence in us.
By crushing or suppressing other communities none of the communities could survive. Our intention is that the three ethnic groups that live in the East must live together with understanding of each others needs and with mutual trust on each others. When a sustainable peace is achieved it should reflect the reasonable aspirations and the rights of all the three ethnic groups.
If we have a solution acceptable to all, then only we will be able to move forward towards a sustainable peace. It must be understood clearly that the ethnic issues became so complex because of the rejection numerous reasonable aspirations of the Muslim community. Due to an individual’s greed power – Prabakaran, he undertook ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in 1990. Now we are determined that such ethnic cleansing should never occur in the future of the history of Tamils and Muslims relationship.
Question: Since of late, it is said that in the East, your organization is making use of your name and the stationeries of your organization to threaten and demand money as ransom and warning those working in the non-government organizations to leave their employment.
Special Commander Pilliyan : We are not involved in any of these activities. Thos who demand ransom, I am sure will not make use of names and stationeries of an organization which will be easily exposed. We are not going to repeat the same mistakes which are being committed by the Praba group.
This is the handy work of the Praba Group. I think I can tell you two examples regarding matter.
Recently, some one living in Kalladi in Batticaloa received a letter in my name demanding money. In that letter the name of the Bank as well as the Bank account numbers were given. When we received details about this threat, we hastened to investigate and found out the Bank account given in the letter belongs to the Praba Group.
In Kalmunai, making use of something similar to our stationery, a letter was sent demanding office space to open up an office or else to give rupees five lakhs. When we investigated, we came to know that it was the work of the Praba Group.
We possess arms only to safeguard our people as well as us from the Praba Group. With our weapons we will not at any given circumstances, try either to harass or threaten our people. We believe that these type deceptive activities are carried on by Praba Group and by a few individual miscreants.
Our letter heads are used to threaten those working in the non-government organizations. Regarding this issue a meeting was recently held in our ‘Meernaham’ office with the representatives of the NGOs’ and our position was very clearly explained to them by our representatives at the meeting.
At the same time I wish to emphasize that those working in the non-government organization must understand one thing very clearly. They must be determined to uphold our traditions, values and customs while discharging their duties.
Question: The main accusation against the Praba group is the forceful recruitment and abduction of the underage children. Recently Tamilselvan in the last meeting held at Geneva has alleged that your organization is responsible for the forceful recruitment and for the abduction of the underage children. Is Tamilselvan right?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Leader was the one who sent back the children abducted by the Tigers to their homes. There were 6000 cadres who remained under his command. We are never involved in forceful recruitments. Praba Group had many press conferences to criticize us. In those press conferences they made similar accusations against us. But many knew how those press conferences were organized and conducted. In our organizations we only accept those who come forward to enroll with us willingly and voluntarily.
When ever school students come forward to join us, we advise them to continue with their studies and face their educational examinations successfully.
Question: Since of late, in the North and East, killings have increased and the normal lives of the peoples are disrupted. People are living in the midst with fear and uncertainty. After your split, it is commonly believed that the killing spree has increased. What in your opinion is the real situation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this Praba Group have to take the full responsibility. The killings are going on unabated and with impunity. The armed groups of youth are created by them. Sadly, it is our Tamil Teachers, loyal to the Praba group, are in a big way responsible for the creations of these armed cadres.
What they do is, they take the students in the upper classes such as in the GCE Ordinary Levels and Advance Levels to Wanni in the guise of study tours. In Wanni these school children are given a 9-day crash training on handling arms and other lethal weapons. They are being trained to handle claymore mines and grenades. These students trained in Wanni are then used to launch attacks in public places. Their new name is ‘Tamil People Upsurge Group.’
Nearly 10 percent of this so called People’s Upsurge armed group operate in the East and 90 percent operate in the North.
I feel sorry for the parents of these students. Parents send their children to schools for studies, but Praba group not only make use of them for their terrorists activities, ruining their future but also they are sent to killing fields to perpetrate serious criminal offences. In some cases they pay few others to kill the people. Killings are increasing because of the genocidal activities of the so-called Tamil People’s Upsurge group.
Kindly take a note of an important factor that the killing spree escalated only after the killing of Vigneswaran in Trincomalee. Once those loyal to Praba Groups are killed, the killings increases automatically following attacks on the Sri Lanka Military Commander and subsequently with the bombing of the Tamils and Muslims. These cannot be condoned or excused.
Not only that, Praba group has shot and killed many innocent youths accusing them of being our supporters. In fact we never have anything to do with those youths who were killed by the Praba Group.
Praba Group is forcefully giving arms training to government servants. If Praba Group is really genuine in waging a war, let them declare a war and see whether that all those trained by them would join them in their war and support them. They are with them because of fear.
At the end of such a war, I am certain only the children of the leaders of the Praba group are likely to survive, because those children are safely away and are studying in the foreign countries. Sooner or later the Tamil people will rise against the Praba’s leadership and kill him. This is a certainty. At present those people living in Wanni are living in the open prison of Prabakaran.
The Praba Group claims that they are protecting our people. That does not really mean the average Tamil person. What they mean is safeguarding their own children by sending them to foreign countries for their safety and security.
Where is Prabakaran’s wife and two children? Where are the children’s of B. Nadesan , Puthuvai Rasathurai, Tamilselvan , Balakumar? .. the list is very long.
Prabakaran is now engaged in a struggle to hold on to power for his own survival. This is Prabhkaran’s war and not the war of the Tamil people. But the tide has turned against him. His days are numbered. The international community, and the Tamil people are now fully behind the campaign to get rid of him. Now it’s a matter of time before he goes.
(http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/240)
Prabhkaran exploits the suffering of the Tamils for his own political ends, he said. Citing an example he said: “Recently, when the Government closed entry to the A9 road, Praba group shed crocodile tears over the death of a child who died, according to a report, without proper medical facilities. But from the date of opening the A-9 road, Prabah Group has collected huge sums of money in the form taxes imposed on the passengers.
They haven’t made use of the money collected so far even to build one hospital. They have made use of those monies to line their pockets and to protect their political power. They grieve only because the revenue generated from road taxes is stopped. But the fact remains that they were unable to provide the necessary medical facilities and safeguard a child’s life.
Then what is all this talk about his Separate Administration serving the Tamil people? Separate Government? If even half of the monies received from the people at home and abroad have been utilized productively, many hospitals with modern facilities would have been constructed and no child would have died,” said Kuperan nom de guerre Pilliyan, Special Commander of the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
The full text of the interview with the TMVP special commander Kuperan alias Pilliyan is given below:
Question: Your Leader Karuna Amman declared a unilateral Ceasefire against the Praba Group prior to the Geneva Talks. But in the last two weeks your special commando attack force penetrated into Muthur region attacked Prabah group and inflicted serious damages. After declaring ceasefire, why did you suddenly change tack and launch attacks on the Prabah group?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We didn’t declare ceasefire just for the sake of Praba Group. We knew well that they will not take it seriously. We declared ceasefire because we did not want to obstruct the efforts undertaken by the Mahinda Rajapakse’s Government and because we were keen that his peace efforts should succeed. Unfortunately during that period our members as well as our supporters were attacked by the Prabah Group. We categorically announced earlier that if in case our people were attacked by the Praba Group, we will attack them. During that said period, three of our members and our three supporters, a total of 6 people were shot and killed by Prabah Group. On 30 May they attacked our Kanthakadu camp. These attacks forced us to take retaliatory measures against them.
Question : So are you saying that the ceasefire declaration made by you earlier is now no more?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We announced a Ceasefire for a trial period of one month. Now the ceasefire has expired.
Question: Praba Group has come up saying that by attacking your Kanthakadu Camp, many truths have been exposed. One of them was the confirmation of your group functioning along with the Sri Lanka Army. What is your comment about this allegation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Kanthakadu camp is not located either in the Government controlled area or in the Tiger controlled area. This is located in the no man’s land. This camp is located 9 kilometers away from Kaddumurichchan. You must understand one thing: if we were with the Sri Lanka Army, then the Army should be waging a war against the LTTE. On the contrary, they are keen on distancing themselves from us. This is a false propaganda let loose by them. Even Praba group know very well that we are not associated with the Sri Lanka Army. But they keep on repeating it because it is good propaganda for them. .
Question: After attacking Kanthakadu, the Tigers alleged that it was your group that abducted the members of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO). Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: Praba Group is leveling this false allegation after seeing our vehicles in the camp. They earlier announced that only one van belonging to the TRO was hijacked. After attacking our camp, now they come up with a new story that, two TRO Vans were hijacked. They keep on changing their stories which reveals their lies. Earlier they lied by alleging that it was we who hijacked van. Now to prove their lies they are coming up with another lie.
Question: Recently in an interview with the Reuters news agency, Anton Balasingham of the Praba Group has complained that the Government has failed to disarm the paramilitary groups as agreed in the peace talks. He went on to say that they have decided penetrate into the Government-controlled areas and personally take steps to disarm especially the arms belonging to the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal. Do you have any comments regarding this?
Special Commander Pilliyan: In fact we are not functioning within the Government controlled areas with arms. After we split from the Tigers they have been targeting us with false propaganda. They first said that the split was an internal matter and told no one should interfere, but now they are begging the Government to disarm us. Those who dare to do it let them come forward. They know well that this is not possible.
Question: Now you have opened up a head office called ‘Meenaham’ in the Eastern Province and is involved in political activities. After the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002 Praba Group opened up many offices and declared that they were involved in political activities. How do you describe the differences between your political office and the political offices earlier opened up by the Praba Group.
Special Commander Pilliyan: I can’t accept the statement made by you whether Praba Group was involved in political activities. As far as we are aware, their activities were all about collecting ransoms and abducting people. But we are not going to be ever involved in such criminal acts. We are not acting against the people. We have come forward to work truly and passionately for the Tamil people. This is only the beginning and soon we are going to dedicate ourselves completely to work for the basic needs and rights of our people.
Question: We learn that your ‘Meenaham’ Secretariat is located in the high security zone and it is given security by the Army?
Special Commander Pilliyan: If the lives of those working in an organization is threatened, then according to the law of the land, it is the foremost duty of the Government to provide security, Even if Prabakaran comes forward to the democratic mainstream of politics and open an office, then the Government forces would provide security. Who is providing security to the MPs and the cadres of the Tamil National Alliance? It is only the Government security forces.
Question : What has been the response of the people after the opening up of your political office and were you able to perceive any foreseeable changes in the people’s mindset ?
Special Commander Pilliyan: We have seen a noticeable change in the attitude of the people towards us. Their confidence in us is growing daily. We are now very near to them. We will not forsake them. This is a basic change. We will lead our people in the due and correct path. We are receiving enormous amount of support from the people. We receive a large number of people in our office. You can witness this personally if you visit our office.
Question: The last SLMM chief has said that he has seen your cadres in the Government controlled area with arms and because of this people’s normal life is disturbed. Is this true?
Special Commander Pilliyan: The armed persons supposed to have been seen by him was said to be not wearing any uniform or any special kit. They were in normal civilian dress and were carrying weapons he said. Based on this statement how can you say that they are our members. It could be also possible for the Praba’s cadres to come in this area with arms and introduced themselves as our members. That is what would have happened. Even today if you go to Valaichenai, you can see Praba group people roaming with weapons. We have never moved in the Government controlled area with arms. We have never functioned in any way to disturb the normal life of the civilians.
Question: There are several anti-Prabah political parties. Are you going to work with them? Or else are you planning to work alone?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this, we already released a statement after our split. We invited all the anti-Prabakaran forces to come and work together. At this juncture you have to take into consideration an important factor. To fight against Prabakaran is not our only aim.
After getting rid of Prabakaran the right solutions has to be placed on behalf of the Tamil people. Prabakaran is not important to us. Prabakaran, is only a temporary road bloc to achieving our reasonable solutions which have to be obtained honorably.
A sustainable peace has to be achieved. These are our cherished aims and objectives. To achieve these noble goals Prabakaran remains a stumbling block. Because of this we are ready to have common working program and work with all the political parties. While working together we should carefully avoid unnecessary power struggles and the competition for superiority over others in the group. Each group has to work without loosing their own identity for the benefit of our people. We are always prepared to cooperate with any alliance when they come forward to work for the welfare of the people without sacrificing the people for their personal power an authority,
Question : In the beginning, Muslims too were involved in Tamils’ struggle. But after 1990, when so many bitter incidents occurred, Muslims gradually withdrew their participation and retreated. Even now it is clearly evident that Muslims fear that they would be ignored in case the Tamils were able to achieve favorable solutions for their grievances. As a responsible people’s organization, what is your comments regarding the Muslims reasonable fear in this case?
Special Commander Pilliyan : We have a clear position regarding the Muslim people. We have taken up the position that Tamils and Muslim must live together peacefully without interfering in the other’s rights. At the same time, we should also address the rights of the Sinhala people living in our midst.
We are putting forward a working program and work in such a way so that the other brotherly ethnic groups may have confidence in us.
By crushing or suppressing other communities none of the communities could survive. Our intention is that the three ethnic groups that live in the East must live together with understanding of each others needs and with mutual trust on each others. When a sustainable peace is achieved it should reflect the reasonable aspirations and the rights of all the three ethnic groups.
If we have a solution acceptable to all, then only we will be able to move forward towards a sustainable peace. It must be understood clearly that the ethnic issues became so complex because of the rejection numerous reasonable aspirations of the Muslim community. Due to an individual’s greed power – Prabakaran, he undertook ethnic cleansing of the Muslims in 1990. Now we are determined that such ethnic cleansing should never occur in the future of the history of Tamils and Muslims relationship.
Question: Since of late, it is said that in the East, your organization is making use of your name and the stationeries of your organization to threaten and demand money as ransom and warning those working in the non-government organizations to leave their employment.
Special Commander Pilliyan : We are not involved in any of these activities. Thos who demand ransom, I am sure will not make use of names and stationeries of an organization which will be easily exposed. We are not going to repeat the same mistakes which are being committed by the Praba group.
This is the handy work of the Praba Group. I think I can tell you two examples regarding matter.
Recently, some one living in Kalladi in Batticaloa received a letter in my name demanding money. In that letter the name of the Bank as well as the Bank account numbers were given. When we received details about this threat, we hastened to investigate and found out the Bank account given in the letter belongs to the Praba Group.
In Kalmunai, making use of something similar to our stationery, a letter was sent demanding office space to open up an office or else to give rupees five lakhs. When we investigated, we came to know that it was the work of the Praba Group.
We possess arms only to safeguard our people as well as us from the Praba Group. With our weapons we will not at any given circumstances, try either to harass or threaten our people. We believe that these type deceptive activities are carried on by Praba Group and by a few individual miscreants.
Our letter heads are used to threaten those working in the non-government organizations. Regarding this issue a meeting was recently held in our ‘Meernaham’ office with the representatives of the NGOs’ and our position was very clearly explained to them by our representatives at the meeting.
At the same time I wish to emphasize that those working in the non-government organization must understand one thing very clearly. They must be determined to uphold our traditions, values and customs while discharging their duties.
Question: The main accusation against the Praba group is the forceful recruitment and abduction of the underage children. Recently Tamilselvan in the last meeting held at Geneva has alleged that your organization is responsible for the forceful recruitment and for the abduction of the underage children. Is Tamilselvan right?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Our Leader was the one who sent back the children abducted by the Tigers to their homes. There were 6000 cadres who remained under his command. We are never involved in forceful recruitments. Praba Group had many press conferences to criticize us. In those press conferences they made similar accusations against us. But many knew how those press conferences were organized and conducted. In our organizations we only accept those who come forward to enroll with us willingly and voluntarily.
When ever school students come forward to join us, we advise them to continue with their studies and face their educational examinations successfully.
Question: Since of late, in the North and East, killings have increased and the normal lives of the peoples are disrupted. People are living in the midst with fear and uncertainty. After your split, it is commonly believed that the killing spree has increased. What in your opinion is the real situation?
Special Commander Pilliyan : Regarding this Praba Group have to take the full responsibility. The killings are going on unabated and with impunity. The armed groups of youth are created by them. Sadly, it is our Tamil Teachers, loyal to the Praba group, are in a big way responsible for the creations of these armed cadres.
What they do is, they take the students in the upper classes such as in the GCE Ordinary Levels and Advance Levels to Wanni in the guise of study tours. In Wanni these school children are given a 9-day crash training on handling arms and other lethal weapons. They are being trained to handle claymore mines and grenades. These students trained in Wanni are then used to launch attacks in public places. Their new name is ‘Tamil People Upsurge Group.’
Nearly 10 percent of this so called People’s Upsurge armed group operate in the East and 90 percent operate in the North.
I feel sorry for the parents of these students. Parents send their children to schools for studies, but Praba group not only make use of them for their terrorists activities, ruining their future but also they are sent to killing fields to perpetrate serious criminal offences. In some cases they pay few others to kill the people. Killings are increasing because of the genocidal activities of the so-called Tamil People’s Upsurge group.
Kindly take a note of an important factor that the killing spree escalated only after the killing of Vigneswaran in Trincomalee. Once those loyal to Praba Groups are killed, the killings increases automatically following attacks on the Sri Lanka Military Commander and subsequently with the bombing of the Tamils and Muslims. These cannot be condoned or excused.
Not only that, Praba group has shot and killed many innocent youths accusing them of being our supporters. In fact we never have anything to do with those youths who were killed by the Praba Group.
Praba Group is forcefully giving arms training to government servants. If Praba Group is really genuine in waging a war, let them declare a war and see whether that all those trained by them would join them in their war and support them. They are with them because of fear.
At the end of such a war, I am certain only the children of the leaders of the Praba group are likely to survive, because those children are safely away and are studying in the foreign countries. Sooner or later the Tamil people will rise against the Praba’s leadership and kill him. This is a certainty. At present those people living in Wanni are living in the open prison of Prabakaran.
The Praba Group claims that they are protecting our people. That does not really mean the average Tamil person. What they mean is safeguarding their own children by sending them to foreign countries for their safety and security.
Where is Prabakaran’s wife and two children? Where are the children’s of B. Nadesan , Puthuvai Rasathurai, Tamilselvan , Balakumar? .. the list is very long.
Prabakaran is now engaged in a struggle to hold on to power for his own survival. This is Prabhkaran’s war and not the war of the Tamil people. But the tide has turned against him. His days are numbered. The international community, and the Tamil people are now fully behind the campaign to get rid of him. Now it’s a matter of time before he goes.
(http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/240)
SLA troopers on paramilitary rescue mission killed
The Liberation Tigers commando unit that returned to LTTE Forward Defence Line (FDL) Sunday after completing the attack on three paramilitary camps in Welikande area, has claimed that 5 Sri Lanka Army troopers, including a Captain rank officer, who took part in a paramilitary rescue operation, were killed in confrontation with the Tigers. Informed defence circles in Colombo said that the SLA deaths were not revealed to avoid reports of SLA complicity in paramilitary issue.
The LTTE sources in Kokkaddicholai in Batticaloa district identified the Sri Lankan captain killed in action as LLoyd Fernando (5VIR RSP) from Kalwatte, Kurunegala.
The other soldiers killed in the confrontation were identified as Upul, Jeyakody, Tissanayake and Anura.
Four SLA troopers escaped with wounds, according to LTTE sources.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=17977)
Kohona: paramilitary link with "lowest rank" of SL forces
Amidst increasing accusations against Colombo of Sri Lankan troopers alleged involvement in extra-judicial killings and the terror-campaign let loose on Jaffna islets, Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Head of Sri Lanka Peace Secretariat, on Tuesday said that he suspects there might be contacts with the paramilitary cadres and the lower rank Sri Lankan troops.
(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18250)
Following the increased civilian killings and attacks on Tamil parliamentarian offices, the top brass of the Sri Lankan forces have been accused of masterminding escalating violence and creating fear psychosis in the minds of the Tamil population.
The Head of Sri Lankan Peace Secretariat, Palitha Kohona, who has been denying any existence of link between the Tamil paramilitary groups, and the Sri Lankan military and the political establishment, changed his position, in an exclusive interview to the Reuters.
"[...] human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," the Head of Sri Lankan Peace Secretariat was quoted by the Reuters.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with the now Karuna's men," Kohona further said.
He continued: "...given human nature, I wouldn't be surprised that people fraternise with each other ... They fraternise, they drink with each other, they visit each others' homes. As to what happens beyond that I do not know."
This is the first time, a Sri Lankan official has attempted to provide an explanation to the charges of paramilitary - Sri Lanka military link.
The Liberation Tigers have been accusing Colombo for violating a crucial clause of the Ceasefire Agreement. The clause 1.8 of February 2002 CFA states that the Sri Lankan military should disarm the Tamil paramilitary groups.
Although the Government of Sri Lanka agreed to disarm the armed groups, at Geneva Talks in February this year, the paramilitary violence resumed within three days after the talks.
The paramilitary violence later spread to Vavuniya and Jaffna.
An elite commando unit of the Liberation Tigers, on April 30, launched a surprise attack inside the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) controlled Welikanda in Batticaloa- Polonnaruwa border, killing at least 18 cadres of the paramilitary Karuna Group. Tigers also said they killed five Sri Lankan soldiers, including a Captain rank officer, who took part in a paramilitary rescue operation.
Since the defection in April 2004 to the Sri Lanka Army of the renegade LTTE commander, Karuna, following the crushing of his rebellion against the LTTE leadership the violence against LTTE cadres and supporters has escalated sharply.
Apart from prominent academics, journalists and political activists supportive of the Tamil nationalist struggle, many ordinary civilians suspected of sympathy for the Tigers and some with relatives in the LTTE have been murdered.
Following the collapse of his rebellion in the face of a lightning offensive by the LTTE over the Easter 2004 weekend, Karuna escaped to Army-controlled territory with a handful of loyalists. They were given safe escort to Colombo by the Sri Lanka armed forces.
Kaunra cadres have been operating out of safehouses in Colombo provided by Sri Lankan Military Intelligence (MI), deserters from his ranks say. At least one Colombo safehouse was attacked by suspected LTTE commanders in late 2004, resulting in the deaths of eight paramilitaries and their MI handler.
Karuna himself established a close relationship with the one-time head of Military Intelligence, Sri Lanka Army Major General Shantha Kottegoda. It was during Kottegoda's - then promoted to Lt. Gen. - tenure as head of the SLA that paramilitary violence against LTTE cadres and, primarily, supporters became widespread.(http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18250)
More attacks seen in north Sri Lanka by Peter Apps
MANKULAM, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Glancing nervously into the jungle as they secure the main road north, Tamil Tiger fighters say they believe they are already at war and that government troops are operating behind their lines.
International truce monitors say a string of attacks in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) territory -- yet more ceasefire violations as violence on both sides becomes what the monitors term a "low intensity war" -- suggest that the rebels could be right. The army denies the charge.
Most analysts say it was the rebels who began the cycle of violence with a series of attacks on troops, but the Tigers blame the government.
"The government has started an unofficial war with the LTTE and we want to face them," said Tiger fighter Shankar, one of a group of rebels guarding the A9 highway north through the rebel de facto state. "Our commander has advised us that if the government attacks LTTE cadres, we should retaliate immediately."
Asked if he wanted peace or war, standing next to the rough corrugated iron camp he shares with around 10 other fighters, he said in Tamil: "We like war."
The Tigers have fought for two decades for a separate Tamil homeland, evolving from a small group of young men to one of the world's most feared guerrilla armies, 10,000-20,000 strong with powerful naval and Black Tiger suicide bomber wings.
United Nations agency UNICEF says some are abducted as children against the wishes of their parents, but most fighters say they are volunteers. They say they will bite into cyanide capsules dangling around their necks rather than surrender.
Since a 2002 ceasefire, Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war has been halted. But since early April more than 270 people have died as naval battles, ambushes, murders and air strikes have led to many concluding that the island is once again at war.
Shankar says he believes Sri Lankan troops from wartime Deep Penetration Units are again operating behind rebel territory, launching hit-and-run attacks on fighters and civilians living in the one-seventh of the island under Tiger control.
BEHIND REBEL LINES
The Nordic-staffed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) office in the northern town of Vavuniya says it has recorded at least seven attacks in rebel areas, including several on civilians. They believe military patrols are working alongside anti-Tiger Tamil armed groups.
"We believe that the Sri Lankan army and Tamil armed groups are operating behind LTTE lines," said truce monitor Bernt Gulbrandesen. "There are so many incidents it has to be an organized thing."
The Tigers say the first attack on them in rebel territory was a claymore fragmentation mine ambush on a rebel political wing leader in January, during a spike in violence that preceded a first round of peace talks in Switzerland.
That followed a string of claymore attacks on the military that were widely blamed on the rebels.
As the number of incidents soars, many civilians say they fear army attacks. But more than that, they fear aerial bombing.
The first official government strikes on the Tigers came in April after a suicide attack on an army headquarters in Colombo. The government hit the rebel heartland near their northern headquarters of Kilinochchi last week for the first time.
The Tigers say no one was hurt, but their persistent refusal to grant truce monitors access has raised suspicions that their fledgling air force headquarters might have been hit.
In Kilinochchi town itself, where many buildings were flattened by bombs and shells during the war, life is getting back to normal. But few civilians share fighter Shankar's enthusiasm for more conflict.
"I think war has come," said 67-year-old Subramaniyam Palaniamma, selling baskets in the marketplace. "We believe the bombs will come back. All of us are living in fear."
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500030_pf.html)
Karuna Faction attack had 15 Tigers killed
In an attack carried out by Karuna Faction at Nawaladi day before yesterday 15 Tigers have been killed. This attack which came day before yesterday night first targeted a camp of the Wanni Tigers and next a boat which was due to sail towards Sampur has also come under attack.
Intelligence sleuths say that Karuna Faction has reportedly used heavy weaponry like mortars in this attack.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2006/May/20060523/20060523_3.htm)
Intelligence sleuths say that Karuna Faction has reportedly used heavy weaponry like mortars in this attack.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2006/May/20060523/20060523_3.htm)
Wanni Tigers agitated over Ramanan’s assassination
It is reported that the Tiger Organization has been perturbed over the death of Ramanan alias Kandiah Ulaganathan who was a senior member of the group. It is said that Ramanan was the uppermost leader killed during the past four years.
It is said he was master mind behind suicide attack on Army Commandar Sarath Fonseka, attack on the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic and several other serious attacks executed in Colombo.
It is said that he was closely associated with Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman who was the second military leader in Batticaloa and Ampara.
According to security forces Ramanan was provided with high security and an accurate clue on his whereabouts was essential to target him. It is reported that the Tiger organization is investigating on any leakage of information within the organization.
Unconfirmed reports added that he had diffrences with Bhanu of Batticaloa and Ampara leader.
It is reported with his assassination Tigers’ strength in East has surfaced a crisis. This has led to lose the moral of its members that some are in qualms of leaving the movement, it added. He was associated with Karuna Amman for a long time and it is feared that his absence will be a big damage to the Tigers.
When Tiger leader Kaushalyan was killed the Tiger Organization made use of the assassination in winning the sympathy of international community. But in the present situation there is no hope in materializing that objective.
It is learnt because of this reason the Wani Tigers are blaming the Government for Ramanan’s assassination.
Wanni Tigers have decided to declare one week’s mourning on his death, it is also reported.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2006/May/20060523/20060523_14.htm)
It is said he was master mind behind suicide attack on Army Commandar Sarath Fonseka, attack on the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic and several other serious attacks executed in Colombo.
It is said that he was closely associated with Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman who was the second military leader in Batticaloa and Ampara.
According to security forces Ramanan was provided with high security and an accurate clue on his whereabouts was essential to target him. It is reported that the Tiger organization is investigating on any leakage of information within the organization.
Unconfirmed reports added that he had diffrences with Bhanu of Batticaloa and Ampara leader.
It is reported with his assassination Tigers’ strength in East has surfaced a crisis. This has led to lose the moral of its members that some are in qualms of leaving the movement, it added. He was associated with Karuna Amman for a long time and it is feared that his absence will be a big damage to the Tigers.
When Tiger leader Kaushalyan was killed the Tiger Organization made use of the assassination in winning the sympathy of international community. But in the present situation there is no hope in materializing that objective.
It is learnt because of this reason the Wani Tigers are blaming the Government for Ramanan’s assassination.
Wanni Tigers have decided to declare one week’s mourning on his death, it is also reported.
(http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2006/May/20060523/20060523_14.htm)
S.Lanka suspects some troops talk to renegades by Simon Gardner
COLOMBO, May 23 (Reuters) - Some low-ranking Sri Lankan troops may be in contact with armed groups opposed to Tamil Tiger rebels, but there is no evidence of large-scale collusion, the head of the government's peace secretariat said on Tuesday.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have said they will not resume peace talks until the government makes good on a pledge to rein in such groups -- in particular breakaway rebels led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna.
Truce monitors say the military is at least turning a blind eye to Karuna followers in military-controlled territory, but the government says it cannot find anyone to disarm and that anyway hunting them down could risk escalating violence.
"There is no doubt that the military at the highest levels has discouraged any contacts (or) any assistance to the Karuna group," Palitha Kohona, head of the secretariat, told Reuters.
"But at the lowest rank and levels ... human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," he added.
The Tigers accuse the military of helping Karuna's men kill their fighters, and say continued attacks are the single biggest hurdle to resuming peace talks aimed at permanently ending a two-decade civil war that killed over 64,000 people.
The Tigers have pulled out of talks indefinitely, and have warned a low intensity conflict raging despite a 2002 truce could spiral into a full-blown war.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with now Karuna's men," said Kohona, formerly head of the United Nations treaty section in New York.
"The government is determined to ensure that armed groups are not assisted or facilitated in any way by the security forces of the country. There may be lapses in the message going down through the rank and file, but this is only to be expected in any military," he added, citing abuses by U.S. troops in Iraq.
Any soldiers found helping Karuna's group would be prosecuted, Kohona said.
LOW INTENSITY WAR
The Tigers and Nordic truce monitors both now say Sri Lanka is locked in a "low intensity war", though the government disagrees and says it is only retaliating in limited bursts.
And while analysts say the Tigers -- who want to carve out a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east -- are spoiling for a full-fledged war, Kohona says war is not an option.
He said he was disappointed the Tigers feel talks are unlikely this year given escalating clashes, but hopes a visit this week by Norwegian envoys Erik Solheim and Jon Hanssen-Bauer will help bring both sides back to talks.
"I hope that there are some new ideas that they will be able to come and discuss with both the government and the LTTE and the sincere hope of the government is that they will be able to persuade the LTTE at this stage to come back to the negotiating table," he said.
"If we don't have talks, we are condemning ourselves to an eternity of conflict."
The ceasefire is still technically holding, but more than 270 troops and civilians have been killed since early April and the rebels and the military are fighting increasingly frequent skirmishes with mortars and rocket propelled grenades near their forward defence lines in the north and east.
(http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP137768.htm)
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have said they will not resume peace talks until the government makes good on a pledge to rein in such groups -- in particular breakaway rebels led by a former Tiger commander called Karuna.
Truce monitors say the military is at least turning a blind eye to Karuna followers in military-controlled territory, but the government says it cannot find anyone to disarm and that anyway hunting them down could risk escalating violence.
"There is no doubt that the military at the highest levels has discouraged any contacts (or) any assistance to the Karuna group," Palitha Kohona, head of the secretariat, told Reuters.
"But at the lowest rank and levels ... human contacts that were established during the three years of ceasefire may have continued. I don't have any evidence as to whether they are continuing or not, but we suspect there might be," he added.
The Tigers accuse the military of helping Karuna's men kill their fighters, and say continued attacks are the single biggest hurdle to resuming peace talks aimed at permanently ending a two-decade civil war that killed over 64,000 people.
The Tigers have pulled out of talks indefinitely, and have warned a low intensity conflict raging despite a 2002 truce could spiral into a full-blown war.
"It is not going to be an easy task to ensure that government soldiers break off all their contacts that existed previously with now Karuna's men," said Kohona, formerly head of the United Nations treaty section in New York.
"The government is determined to ensure that armed groups are not assisted or facilitated in any way by the security forces of the country. There may be lapses in the message going down through the rank and file, but this is only to be expected in any military," he added, citing abuses by U.S. troops in Iraq.
Any soldiers found helping Karuna's group would be prosecuted, Kohona said.
LOW INTENSITY WAR
The Tigers and Nordic truce monitors both now say Sri Lanka is locked in a "low intensity war", though the government disagrees and says it is only retaliating in limited bursts.
And while analysts say the Tigers -- who want to carve out a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the island's north and east -- are spoiling for a full-fledged war, Kohona says war is not an option.
He said he was disappointed the Tigers feel talks are unlikely this year given escalating clashes, but hopes a visit this week by Norwegian envoys Erik Solheim and Jon Hanssen-Bauer will help bring both sides back to talks.
"I hope that there are some new ideas that they will be able to come and discuss with both the government and the LTTE and the sincere hope of the government is that they will be able to persuade the LTTE at this stage to come back to the negotiating table," he said.
"If we don't have talks, we are condemning ourselves to an eternity of conflict."
The ceasefire is still technically holding, but more than 270 troops and civilians have been killed since early April and the rebels and the military are fighting increasingly frequent skirmishes with mortars and rocket propelled grenades near their forward defence lines in the north and east.
(http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP137768.htm)
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